Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-14
ABOUT HAVANA CIGARS.
Interesting Points TO Guide Smokers How
the Custom CT Smoking Originated.
N,rr vo.l- Moi md rvnraec

Interesting fOiHtS 10 OdIue oIhoh CTS now
the Custom CT Smoking Originated.
New York Mail and Express
The manufacture of cigars is to-day
one of the most important industries of
this country. Formerly Cuba controlled
the trade, but latterly the industry has
been diverted to the United States. Prac.
tically the cigar of to-day, except in style
and finish, is the same as that smoked by
the natives of the western hemisphere
before the advent of the white man. To
SirNWalter Raleigh is given the credit of
introducing smoking into England, but
although it is now known that tobacco
had been smoked in Europe before Sir
Walters time, he certainly deserves the
credit of making it fashionable and pop
ular.
The American Indians are supposed to
have made the first cigars, which were
formed of tobacco leaves rolled together
and wrapped around with inner leaves of
maize or Indian corn. Two of Column
bus sailors found the natives of Cuba
smoking by means of hollow tube in the
shape of the letter Y, tho foot of which
was planted among some tobacco leaves
burning on the embers of wood fire,
while the two arms were placed IN the
nostrils, through which was inhaled the
smoke. This instrument was called a
tobago, and doubtless gave the name to
the weed Or plant. In the seventeenth
century it was common for Indians in
council to have roll of tobacco three
feet long by tho thickness Of the wrist,
but with hollow center the whole length.
This roll was lit at one end, from which a
boy would drive the smoke through into
the faces of each. By holding the hands
together, kind Of funnel would be form
ed about the nose and mouth to receive
the smoke, which was inhaled with salts
faction. If the council was 200 or 300
strong the air would soon become sitting;
but perhaps not more SO than the smOk-
ing-car or gents cabin of the present day.
Mr.. j. E. Cowles, in conversation with a
reporter, said
"The finest tobacco in the world is
raised in Cuba, the best at the west end
being known as Vuelta Abajo, and that at
the east end as Vuelta Arriba. The Yara
is grown near Santiago de Cuba. Con-
necticut grows the best domestic tobacco
for wrappers, as the leaf has no thick
fibres and is of fine texture. At one time
Havana had the credit of making the
finest cigars, but now equally good ones
can be made in this country from import
ed leaf. Cigar making is a different
branch of trade from tobacco manufac-
ture. By division of labor, the work of
making cigars is better and more econOm-
ically carried on, even to the sorting and
packing. Although nearly every man at
the present day, and sometimes women,
smoke cigars, very few know how they
are made. The leaf has first to be re-
moved from the stalk, then sprc ad ont on
block and cut into gore-shap ed strips.
The pieces, used as filters, ar punched
together and encesed in these rips. By
means of guage the bunch is cut to the
right length and trimmed. 1t then fe-
ceives wrapper of fine tob acco, which
is rolled around it, twisted at one end and
secured by bit of paste. Then the cigar
is complete, but not fit to SIN oke Or pack.
The cigars have to be dried in closets for
time, then packed in boxes for time,
after the proper brand has been affixed to
the box. The punching Of the filters is
sometimes done in mold for the cheaper
kind of cigars; but the han d-made cigar
is always to be preferred. The brand in
dicates the style, size and shape of the
cigar, but there are very few smokers who
understand the names. A few may be
mentioned: COncha means shell. This
cigar is four and one-quarter inches
long. The Concha Fina is the
choicest selection, and a Concha Es-
pecial has finer finish than a Concha,
rather longer and more tapering at the
end. Londres is so named because of
its POPULARITY in England, for it's shape
and unusual length. Regalia is cigar
of finer grade than either of those before
mentioned. Regalia CONNIE il Faut indi-
Gates better finished cigar than the
Concha, and of finer tobacco. Damas is
a small cigar, about two inches in length.
Panatelas is a long, thin cigar, heavily
pressed in making. Non Plus Ultra
is large and handsomely made of the
finest tobacco. The Excepcionaiee is
very large cigar, while the Cpera.is a
small, after or theater cigar, about three
and quarter inches long, and the Prin-
cessas is similar but thinner. The coiors
or shades are also designated by bran DIS
on the box, generally at the end, and may
be thus distinguished: Oscuro (obscure),
dark ana dry; Maduro (ripe, mature) al
so dark; Colorado Maduro, dark brown;
Colorado, medium, or between light and
dark; Colorado Claro, light brown; and
Claro, very light color"
Anecdotes are told OF noted men who
have been or are still smokers. The fame
OF General Grant as such is so we'll known
that mere allusion here is sufficient.
Henry M. Stanley when in the civilized
world, smokes six cigars day. In Africa
he uses a pipe and milk tobac-
co. Smoking, he says, helps to make
him think. Before engaging in one of
the battles on the Congo he sat down and
smoked for five minutes. Shortly after
he was kept busy in contest which lasted
for hours. Livingstone, however, never
smoked. Gordon was an inveterate
smoker, and on his last journey to Khar-
toum took with him $4,000 cigarettes. Gen
Scott was addicted to the weed, and gave
the name to one of the tobaccos now in
general use. Many other men might be
mentioned as great smokers, including
those engaged in scientific, literary and
other pursuits which require the con-
centration of the mind and the applica-
ton of thought.
He got her Easily.
Detroit Free Press.
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